Car truck



' 25 our Invention,

Patented Feb. 25?, 193e l UNITED 4S15-vries 'PATENT oFFi-cE HERBERT W. ALDEN AND NELSON E. EEOWNYER, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, AssIGNons To 'mE TIM'KEN-DETEOIT AXLE COMPANY, on DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORA- TION F OHIO CAR TRUCK- Applicat'onl'ed May-31,l1929. Serial No. 367,343.

This invention relates to trucks, andmore particularly to street car trucks of the kindhaving two motor driven axles enclosed lin axle housings that are connected together at their corresponding ends by body-supporting leaf springs. Its principal :objects are to provide connections between the springs and the axle housings which will resist the drivel minimize jarring and jolting. The invention consists in -the truck, and inthe parts and arrangementsof partsk hereinafter described and claimed. y

In" the accompanying drawings, which form part ofthespecication and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur, v l

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofatruck-embodying Fig. 2 is a verticallongitudinal section on the line-2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse lcross-section on the line '5-3 in Fig. 1,`

Fig. 4 is ya verticall section through the yielding connection between one end of a spring and adjacent axle housing,v

Fig. 5 is a verticalsection on the line 5-5 in Fig. 4, i 35 Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the lower spring seats; and. Fig. 7 is a sim'lar view on one of the upper spring seats. e The present truck comprises twoaxle hous- -40 ings A, semi-elliptic longitudinal side springs B connecting the corresponding ends of said axle housings, and arigidf' truck'bolst'erC connecting said sidesprnigs about midway 'of their length. Railfwhejels Dfarejsecurecill to axle shaft sections l1vrotatably mounted in the axlehousings andareoperatively 'con neted by differential jmec'hanisms shown) intrposedbetween-them. 'The truck (not I bolster. C is .provided at its center with a suitable center'pin or king` bolt 2 of a suitable center bearing (notshcwn) 1on which the car4 body is supportedand aboutwhich` the truck swivels:

Eachfend ofthe truc'kbolster C is ysiip'poited on and rigidly clamped tothe side spring -B .located therebelow by means of vertical fclarnping bolts 3 whichextend through alined openings Ain said truck bolster and inasad d1@ block 1I-located beneath-saidspring.'` 'This l vsaddle Ablock is,v provided with upstanding' 1 side anges 5 which'ter'r'ninate at their uppelff' 'ends in tonguesthat 4fit within downward'ly.-

opening grooves or, notches 7 lprovidedftheife? form lugs 8 .thatproject dwnwanrlly -from'- .l ed

Each side spring -C0mprise s;.a'- series of fthe bolsterl on opposite; sides. flthespring.

leaves .superposedone upo-nithe Qther, the-'twol e substantially the same length andftheremaim ving leaves being regularly shortened( or gradu'ated `froml` top to bottoin`.1 yAtfea'ehl end.- of` each side spring. the twodong; lower leaves' 9 andl 10 thereof extend" beneath'the end-fof 4the axlehousing locatedadjacentjhereto and are secured te; s .aidhousing by .meanso' a connection-'or fitting` comprising .two cooperating spring seatsfll and,12` l`ocated one above and the other'below the projecting ends vseat 12 lits-under the lower leaf 10. j'f'The up'-v per and'lovver spring seatfshlll, with the `endsor` the two long lower leaves'S and of thelspring disposed",therebetween, are

secured to the-underside ofthe axle housing eo f for in the axle housing and in the four corners of said spring seats.

The springopposing faces of the upper` and lower spring seats 11 and 12 are provided on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line of the axle to which theyare secured with recesses adapted to receive rectangular blocks 15 of rubber or other nonmetallic material.`

slot 2() in the lower leaf 10 at about the centerA of the spring seats is a dowel or stud 21. The dowelpin 21 is provided at its upper end with a laterally extending crossgheador bar 22 which fits within a longitudinal groove 23 in the underside of the cross bar 17 of t-he upper spring seat 11. The groove 23 has a transversely curved concave surface, and the cross-bar 22 of the dowel pin 21 has a transversely curved convex uppersurface adapted to fit the curved surface of said groove. The dowel pin has a snug fit in the hole 19 in the upper leaf 9; and the slot 20 in the lower leaf 10 is elongated lengthwise of thel spring to permit relative movement between said pin and said lower leaf longitudinally of the latter.

The rubber blocks are preferably provided with al canvas covering to prevent excess iiow of the rubber under load. A thin plate 24, preferably of brass, is interposed between the opposing surfaces of the lower leaf 10 and the lower pair of rubber supporting blocks for the purpose of securing an easy sliding movement of said leaf relative to said blocks. The amount of compression applied to the rubber blocks when the bolts are tightened is limited by abutting flanges 25 and 26 at the sides of the upper and lower spring seats 11 and 12, respectively. The side flanges 26 of thelower spring seat are provided with tongues 2Gn that fit within the ends of the groove 23 in the upper spring seat and thus serve to properly position the two seats with respect to each other.

In the present arrangement, the axle shaft sections 1 ofthe two differential driving axles are driven by means of separate driving motors, preferably electric motors lhsupported in a rectangular-frame F located above the axle housings A and the longitudinal side springs B which connect them together. The motor supporting frame comprises side rails 30 of substantially channel-shaped section with their webs disposed vertically and with their top and bottom iianges extending inwardly. The side rails 30 of the motor supporting frame are supported intermediate end of said motor.

their ends in outwardly opening recesses 31 provided therefor in the ends of the truck bol- -ster C, the flanges of said side rails being riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the bol-v ster. The side rails 30 of the motor supporting frame are connected together at their ends by end members 32 of substantially inverted channel-shaped cross section.

The two driving motors E are preferably arranged on opposite sides of the truck bol-v other axle, that is, the axle that is more distant from. it. For this purpose, the outer end of the motor is tilted higher than the in- -ner end thereof, and the worm shaft that is driven thereby is also tilted so that its inner end is higher than its outer end and at about the same angle as the motor. The proper inclination is such that the transmission shaft 33, which is connected to the armature shaft 34 of the motor and to the worm shaft by universal joints 35 and 36, will normally lie in the same line with them. By this arrangement, the up-and-down movement ofthe side springs and the bolster and motor frame sup-Y lugs 37 at their sides adapted to be secured by e bolts 38 to similar outstanding lugs 39 on said bolster and on the end members of said motor supporting frame. The armature shaft 34 of each motor extends beyond the outer or commutator end thereof and is housed within a tubular housing or extension 40 that isbolted or otherwise rigidly secured to said rl`he armature shaft extends beyond the outer end of the housing therefor and has a brake disk 41 mountedthereon for rotation therewith. Suitable brake shoes 42 are supported on outstanding lugs or brackets 43 on the end members 32 of the motor supporting frame and cooperate with the brake disk.' Thls construction of .armature shaft brake forms no part of the also absorb all driving and braking torque l reactions.

The cushioned connections between the springs and the axle housings permit the springs to liex in all directions; and they also serve to cushion the rail vibrations,

lOl)

tion occurs. The slot-and-pin connections between the dowel pins and thespring leaves perm-it relative longitudinal sliding movenient of the leaves 10 with respect to the leaves 9 and spring seats ;v and they also permit tilting movement of the portions of said leaves located lbetweenfthe spring seats without bending'said leaves where they enter said spring seats. f f

. It is noted that as another important advantage of the foregoing construction that the driving motors `and brakes Aare entirely sprung; thatis, the 'motors and brakesare spring-supported with relation to the axle housings so as to allow relative independent movement therebetween. It is also noted. that the unsprung Weight is extremely low, consisting only of the driving axles and wheels and one half ofthe weight of the propeller shafts. Obviously, the liereinbefore described con'4 .struction admitsv of considerable modifica- .tions without departing from the invention..

Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the J precise construction shown and described.

Whatweclaimis: 1 A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting said housings, a member connecting said leaf springs, spring?.

, below the o therewith.y

seats secured to said housings and adapted to receive the adjacent ends of the leaf springs therebetween, and flat noninetallic cushioning blocks mounted in said spring seats above and portions ofthe springs cooperating 2. A -vehicle truck comprising axle hous ing ends of said housings, a holster connect- 'ing the 'iniddleportions of said springs, and i connection- .betweeneach end of each spring andthe adjacent end of .an axle housing, said connection @Comprising up'per and lower spring seats .secured to'each other and to the axle h'ousing'and'a'dapted to receive the end of` said spring,.. and non-metallic cushioning blocks interposedflbetween said end of said lspringend the-lower spring seatand the boti tom of the' axle housing.

`and theadj cent end-of anaxle housing, said f 3. Av'ehicle truck comprising axle hous ings, leaf springs connectingnthe corresponding ends 'of -saidhousings, abolster connect ing the middlefportio'r'isof said springs, and a connection between each end of eaph spring connection `con'ipri'sing upper andv lower spring seats secured to each other and to the Abottoni o f 'the .axl'efhousing andiadapted to receive the end of said Vspring therebetween, nonmetallc cushioning blocks interposed between said end ofsaid spring and the lower spring seat 'and the bottom of the axle housof the axle housing and adapted to. receive the end vo f said springtlierebetween, nonmetallic cushioning blocks interposed. bei -tween said end of said spring and the lowerspring seat and the' bottom of theaxle housing, -a. stud extending'through the .portion ofthe spring engaged with' saidspr'ing seats,

and 'means .on one end of .said stud cooper- 5' ating with means on one of said spring seats for permitting rocking movement vof said stud .in directions] ltransverse. to said axle housing.

5. A vehicle truck comprising' axlehousings', leaf -springs'connectingfthe corresponding ends of said housings, abolster, means for securing the middle portions of saidsprings to the ends of said bolster, and'ineans for se.

curing the end portions of saidsprings to the bottoms of said axle housings, said last ing, and a stud extending through said end tof said s ring with one end seated in a recess mentioned means comprising an upper spring seatI fittinga'gainst the bottom of a housing,-

a lower spring seat below said'iipper spring seat, no'nnietallic cushioning blocks. interposed between said spring --andthelower spring seat and the bottom of the-axle housing, means for securing said seats together and to said .axle-housing, astud extending through vertical openings in the' portions of the spring engaged by said spring seats,.and

.means on one end of said stud cooperating with .means onan adjacent spring seat'for permitting rockingniovement of said stud in directions transverse to said axlehousing.

6. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said housings, a bolster connecting the middle portions of said springs,

means `for securing each end of each spring to the adjacent end of an axle housing` said nieans comprising upper and lower spring lseats disposed hencathsaid axle' and-adapted to receive the 'ends of 4the two lou-cr leaves of said spring, noninetallic cushioning blocks clamped between said leaves and the lower spring seat and the bottom of said axle housing, and a stud .extending through registering openings in the ends of the two lower `leaves of said springs and having rocking engagement with one'of said spring seats,

lthe opening in one of said leaves snugly fitting said stud and the opening in the other of said leaves being elongated lengthwise of the spring.

7. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings leaf s )rings connecting said housin s t3 3 D h 7 kso a bolster connecting said leaf springs, spring seats secured to said housings and adapted to receive the adjacent end of a leaf spring therebetween, the spring'opposing face of one of said seats having a groove therein extending transversely ofsaid spring, flat nonmetallic cushioning blocks mounted in said spring seats above and below the portion of the spring .cooperating therewith, and a stud extending through said portion of said spring and provided with a cross-head having a bearing in the groove in one of the spring seats.

8. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting said housings, a bolster connecting said leaf springs, upper and lower spring seats secured together and to said housings and adapted to receive the adjacent end of a leaf spring therebetween, the under side ofthe upper spring seat being provided with a groove extending transversely of said spring, Hat nonmetallic cushioning blocks mounted in said' spring seats above and below the portion of the spring cooperating therewith, and a stud extending vertically through said portion of said spring andprovided at its upper end with a .crosshead fitting the groove in said upper spring seat.

9. A vehicle truck comprising axle vhous-` ings, leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said housings, a bolster connecting the middle portions of said springs, and a connection between each end of each spring and the adjacent end of an axle housing, said connection comprising upper and lower spring seats secured to each other and tothe bottom of the axle housing and adapted to receive the ends of the two lower leavesof said spring, nonmetallic cushioning blocks interposed between said leaves and the lower spring seat and the bottom of the axle housing, one of said seats being provided in its spring opposing face with avgroove extending transversely of said spring, and a stud extending through .registering openings provided therefor in said leaves and having a cross-head seated in said groove. l

10. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings. leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said housings, a bolster connecting the middle portions of said springs, and

'a connection between each end of each spring and the adjacent end of an axle housing, said connection comprising' upper' and lower spring seats secured to each other and to the bottom of the axle .housing and adapted to receive -the ends of the two lower leaves of said spring, nonmetalli'c cushioning blocks interposed between said leaves and the lower spring seat and the bottom of the axle housing, one of said seats being provided in its springppposing face with a groove extending transversely of said spring, and a stud tending through ,registering vopenings provided therefor in said leaves and having a cross-head seated in said groove, said stud having a snug fit in opening in one leaf and a loose fit in the opening in the other leaf.

11. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said housings, a bolster connecting the middle portion of said springs, means for securing each end of each spring to the adjacent end of an' axle housing, said means comprising upper and lower spring seats disposed beneath said axle and adapted to receive the ends of the two lower leaves of said posed in abutting relation, a plurality7 ofH nonmetallic cushioning blocks clamped between said leaves and the lower spring seat and the bottom of said axle housing, and a stud extending throughregistering openings in' the ends of the two lower leaves of said spring and having rocking engagement with the upper spring seat, the opening in the upper leaf snugly fitting said stud and the opening in the lower leaf being elongated lengthwise of the spring.

12. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said axle housings, a bolster rigidly connecting the' middle portions of said springs, a frame supported intermediate the ends of its side rails on the middle portions of said springs, and motors supported from said bolster and said vframe and operatively connected with the respective axle housings.

13. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said axle housings, a bolster, a saddle block rigidly connecting the middle portions of said springs to the bottom of said bolster, and a frame located above said housings and springs, and supported intermediate the ends vof its side rails on the middle portions of said springs.

14. ,A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting the corresponding ends of said axle housings, a bolster exya bolster, said bolster having its ends supported on and rigidly secured to the middle portions of said springs, and motors supported on said frame and operatively connected with the respective axle housings.

1G. A vehicle truck comprising axle housings, leaf springs connecting the correspondingendsof said axle housings, va frame comprising side rails connected by end rails and a bolster, said bolster having its ends sup ported on and rigidly-secured to the middle portions of said springs, motors supported on said frame and operatively connected with the respective aXle housings, and brake mechtively engaging said motors.

anism supported on said frame and opera- Signed at Detroit', Michigan, of May, 1929.

' HERBERT W. ALDEN. NELSON R. BROWNYER.

his 28th day 

